Can labeling machine



Nov. 1, 1955 c. M. HESSON 2,722,333

CAN LABELING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.CHARLES M HESSON 1, 1955 c. M. HESSON CAN LABELING MACHINE 9Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1953 l l 3 I W ll M K m INVENTOR. CHARLESHESSON 'BY 1 Nov. 1, 1955 c. M. HESSON CAN LABELING MACHINE 9Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 19, 1953 INVENTOR. CHARLES M HESSON A TTOP/VEY NOV. 1955 c. M. HESSON CAN LABELING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJan. 19, 1953 INVENTOR.

CHARLES M HESSON V ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1955 Filed Jan. 19, 1955 C. M.HESSON CAN LABELING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. CHARLES M HESSONATTOQNE Y 1, 1955 c. M. HESSON 2,722,333

CAN LABELING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

. CHARLES M. HESSON ATTORNEY Filed Jan. 19, 1953 Nov. 1, 1955 c. M.HESSON 2,722,333

CAN LABELING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 it; m :um. um:

1E] CHARLES M HESSON BY ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1955 c. M. HESSON 2,722,333

CAN LABELING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Illlll l| I, L@119 43 I I a l 5 24 I so I I I83 I 326 I83 INVENTBI? r 1 -lL CHARLES MHESSON ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fiice 2,722,333 Patented Nov. 1,1955 CAN LABELING MACHINE Charles M. Hesson, Hanover, Pa., assignor toChisholm- Ryder Company of Pennsylvania, Hanover, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application January 19, 1953, Serial No. 332,068

14 Claims. (Cl. 21658) This invention relates to improvements inmachines for applying labels to articles such as containers and, moreparticularly, cans, jars and bottles.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application, SerialNo. 162,320, filed May 5, 1950, now Patent No. 2,626,075.

In labeling machines of the type to which the present inventionpertains, containers such as cans, jars or bottles are rolled along arunway through the machine. During such movement, they pass pasting andlabel supplying stations. The labels are quickly and automaticallyapplied to the containers by being pasted and wrapped therearound. Astack of labels is progressively fed toward the runway for applicationto the containers in the manner described.

In modern machines of this type, the consumption of labels is rapid andreplenishment must be made rather frequently. Auxiliary feed means areprovided for purposes of feeding the remainder of a previous supply oflabels to the label applying station along the runway, while the mainlabel support is lowered for the reception of a new supply of labels.Following such replenishment, the main label support again feeds labelsto said station.

If the supply of labels should become exhausted and an attendant failsto replenish the same, containers would continue to pass through themachine and be pasted but no labels would be applied thereto. This wouldalso result in the containers causing paste to be deposited, forexample, on the conventional pressing pad which normally presses thelabels to the pasted containers. The pasted but unlabeled containersthen usually pass to another machine such, for example, as a casingmachine and, upon the casing operator noticing such unlabeled containerspassing to his machine, he has to interrupt the casing operations, andthe customary smooth operation of the labeling and easing operations, atbest, become disrupted until labels are supplied to the labelingmachine.

The pasted but unlabeled containers must be removed from the labelingand easing machines and passed again through the labeling machine,cleaning of the paste from the containers usually first being requiredas well as removal of the paste from the pressing pad of the labelingmachine. This procedure is obviously messy and timewasting, especiallywhere the paste is of the thermoplastic or heat softenable type.

In previous attempts to prevent the foregoing objectionable results fromoccurring, various means have been resorted to such as audible signalssounding when the supply of labels neared exhaustion, or a switch in thepower circuit of the labeling machine was opened to stop the machine.Audible signals are satisfactory if heard by an attendant but they areby no means fool-proof to obviate the objectionable consequencesdescribed above. Thus, the switch to stop the machine is more effective.However, the latter is undesirable in that machines of this nature havemany moving parts and re.-

starting the same after a stop is excessively wearing on the motor anddriving members in overcoming the inertia of the many stopped machineparts.

It is the principal object of the present invention to prevent thepasted but unlabeled containers from passing through the machine whenlabels are nearly exhausted by providing container stopping meansadjacent the entrance of the container runway, the movement of said,means into container stopping position being controlled by the labelfeeding means.

It is another object of the invention to embody electrically controlledmeans in the stop actuating mechanism to render operation of the stopsubstantially instantaneous and especially effective in modern typelabeling machines which operate at high speed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide several embodimentsof stop members per se which have individual characteristics andadvantages under certain conditions of use and related structure and,while each is operable to perform the objects of the invention, theseembodiments are not equivalents.

One other object of the invention is to provide electric mechanismpreferably including a solenoid and a suitable operating circuitarranged to move a can stop member in one direction, whereby control ofsaid circuit may be effected at a number of different locations, remoteor otherwise from the labeling machine, thereby making it possible tocontrol the operation of the labeling machine not only from the labelsupplying station but also from any one of a number of other machines orvarious locations in a canning factory, for example.

A further object of the invention is to provide in one embodimentthereof a can stop member constructed to engage the rims of a containersuch as a can so as to preclude the possiblity of denting the sidesthereof; an additional feature of this object being that the stop memberper se extends preferably parallel to the axis of the container andengages the container rims in a tangential manner.

As an adjunct of the foregoing object, the stop member preferably ispositioned above the runway and moves downward in stopping directiontoward the runway so as to stop a container by a somewhat wedgingaction.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide severalembodiments of can stopping mechanism which are fool-proof in operation,rugged and long lasting, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy toinstall in either newly manufactured or used labeling machines, andcapable of ready and accurate adjustment to operate at predetermined,precise settings.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention as well as otherobjects thereof, are set forth in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of one embodiment of container labelingmachine utilizing the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the front end of said container labelingmachine.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking into the container entrance end ofsaid labeling machine.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the front end portion of saidlabeling machine.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of said machine looking at the front end ofthe label feeding mechanism thereof, taken on line 55 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of said label feeding mechanism taken on line66 of Fig. 7. I

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken through one of the frame members of thelabel feeding mechanism, showing parts thereof in elevation.

liig 13, is agtopplan, View of details of thelabel feed v ingmeans andstop.actuating members of the embodimebt of container stop mechanismshown in. Figs. hr nstt .2-.

fer n t h dra n er s' lus r t d b s c ab linsmashine hich. rq it simi arin co ru tion to tl at,disclosed and descrihedin my U. S. Letters PatentNo. 1,995,306, granted March 2 6, 1953 to which patent referencenrightbe hadfor, certain details of construction,

sl fi esthe arrangement of the variousdrive-shafts driven from a singlesourceof power, adjustable features of the machine for aceomrnodating.cans of different sizes and therstailanp sn ifiqa l e u n e Presentdraw.- ings, and described in thisspeeifieation. For other details not;descnibed hereinafter, attention is also invited; to P rent, licat on Sia NQ-- 160,320, fi e y 1950and now Patent No. 2,626,075, dated January20, 19, 53.

It I is also to be understood that the term can labeling. machine asused throughout the description herein is used in the generic sense toinclude generally containers of the type which may be advanced byrolling along a l'l ltlwayqin alabeling machine, such containerscomprising, for example, cans, jarsand bottles.

Inthe drawings 1 indicates a platform upon which the labeling machine ismounted, the same being provided with casters 2 permitting the machineto be readily moved from place-to place when desired.

Projecting vertically from the platform are the hollow standards 3,4,5and 6. providingthemain support for the superstructure, consisting ofthe various elements for properly conveying the cans through themachineduring labeling operations, Standards 5- and 6, are constructedin two,.sections so,that the upper sections and associatedpartstcarrying the-conveyor mechanism may be adjusted relative to therunways or tracks to accommodatecans of different sizes, saidstructureto be later described.

Extending, laterally from the upperend of; section 5f. of, the standard5, is an arm 9; supporting a depending bra ket. ll-P o hsa a sl ormins app for the outer end of a rotatable shaft 12 on whicharemounted, forrotation therewith, ,pu lley s;13. The inner end; of. shaft 12 isreceived in bearings seated in thewalls of a gearbox 15 and extends.beyond theboxv to receive a,.b eveled. gear. 16., Between the bearings,and secured to the shaft 12, is a gear by whichthe shaft 12 is rotated.Castings 18, loosely connected to the pulleys 13, and carried. by theshaft 12, project forwardly and act as supports for framememberstobelater described.

An electric motor 19 is provided for driving the various operating partsof the labelingmachine and is slidably mounted on standard 5 so as tobeadjusted or raised vertically. To the shaft of the motor. 19 is.secured a self adjusting pulley of a=well-known design, drivingan end:lessbelt 23. The belt 23 drives shaft 12 through the gear box 15.

Referring to Figs.- 1 and 3, there is illustrated the standard 6 havingthe upper section 6' adjustably assow ciated therewith. The section 6':is similar: to the section in that, it has a depending; tube securedthereto and telescopically received in the lower section of: thestandard. Within standard6 is arotatableshaft-36 having threadedconnection with a nut; 37 rigidly-secured in the upper end of thesection 6, whereby; rotation of the shaft 13 will elevate or lower theupper section and the associated parts as desired. It will be noted thata filler sleeve 38 surrounds the shaft 36.

Secured to the lower end of shaft 36 is the beveled gear 39 meshing witha beveled gear 40. In order that shaft 36 and the corresponding shaft inpost 5 may have like movement so as to producethe same adjustments ofthe sections 5 and 6', a coupling shaft 41 shown in Fig. l is providedto the opposite ends of which beveled gears are secured, one such gear40 being shown in Fig. 3. On referring to Fig. 3 there is illustrated amanual means for adjusting sections 5' and 6' which includes a driveshaft 42 having; at one end a beveled gear 43, meshing with the beveledgear 39 and at the other end a sprocket wheel 44 over which istrainedthe sprocket chain 45. The sprocket chain receives its drive through themedium of the hand crank 46, shaft 47 and sprocket wheel 48. It will beapparent that on operation of the hand crank 46, section 6 of standard6, and the parts carried there.- by, will be adjusted through the mediumof the sprocket chain 45, drive shaft 42,. gears 43yand'39 and the shaft36 through its threaded connection with the. nut 37 secured in thesection 6, and that a like movement will be imparted to section 5through. similar mechanism therein.

Again, referring to. Fig.3, the upper section. 67, of standard 6, has anarm 49 extending laterally therefrom andithe end of this arm has adepending bracket 50 provided with a bearing 51 forming a support for a.pivoted hollow-arm, 52, of a frame in, which feed rolls are supported,to be later described;

A shaft 53 has one of its ends journaled in the end of bracket 50, whilethe other end of theshaft is received in a bearing in section 6?. Keyed.to, the shaft 53,,for rotation therewith, are the pulleys 57. Pulleys 57are driven by the conveyorbelts. 59 which in turn are driven. by pulleys13.

Referring, to Fig. 1, castings, 18 which are carried by shaft 12 andshownas being directed. forwardly. and downwardly and attached to thesecasings in overlapping relation are the frame plates or members 60 whichare secured to the castings 18 by. bolts 61. Theopposite ends of. theframeplatesor. members are likewise secured. to similar castings whichrotatably receive shaft 53. The frarneplates ormembersform.the..supports for the spring projectedprwsure rollers62-which engage the conveyor belts 5950, that the latter are held in.proper position to contactandfeed, the cans or othercontainers throughthe machine, there beingmounted on, the castings suitable belttightening rollers 63.

Suspended, from. the. castings 18 and the frame plates 60 are thehangers 64 Whichsupport container guiderails 65,, the guide rails being.engaged by the.container ends so thatthe containersareproperly conveyedthrough the.

machine-and passed to-thelabeling, station. After the cans have enteredthe labeling machine they pass overthe runway, consisting of the tracksections 66, track. sections 67, directly over the labels, onto thefixing pad 68, which is inthe formof an endles belt, and out. of themachine onto the delivery chute, 69.-

Referring to Fig.3: the. hollow. arms 52. and 56-,are shown;asmountedzonthe. shaft 53 for. swinging movement, andenclosethe sprocketwheels 70 which are keyed to and receive their drive from. the shaft.53. At the forward, end ,of, thearms, there. are; bearings. forreceiving the ends ofthe hollowshaft. 72 .onwhich aremounted the feedand spacer rolls 73 and 73, which rolls may be of the same'or ditferentwidths. Loosely. mounted on: the hollow shaft 72.are,-the sprocketwheels74. and 75 receiyingdheiit drive;through.the:medium of sprocketchains76;and.:7:7, which-:chainsdmturnare driven by the sprocket wheels 70keyed to the shaft 53. To the inner sides of the hollow. arms :52 and56are secured the-cover plates--78:

As a means-to adjust the frame comprising thepivoted arms- 52 and f5fandthe-guardplate 94; so'thatthefeed ing and spacing rolls may have propercontact with cans beirrgfed into the machine,"the upper section '6 of"the standard 6 and the depending "bracket are provided with likeconstructions consisting of lugs (seeFigs. '2 and 3") through whichextend adjusting screws 96. It will be'noted in Fig. 2 that the'head ofscrew'96 contacts a lug =97 projecting laterally from the lower edge ofthe pivoted arm 52 and that the end of the screw-engages a lug 98projecting laterally from the upper edge of the pivoted arm 52.

Nuts 99 are contained on the screw '96, engaging the 'lug 95 and onadjusting these nuts on the screw the screw will be moved'and throughits contact with lug 98 will .adjust the frame so as to hold or adjustthe feeding rolls in proper position to contact and feed a containerinto the machine and not fall to a point where entrance of a containeris prevented.

A spring 100 surrounds eac'h of the adjusting screws 96, having one endengaging the ing 95 and the other "end contacting the head of theadjusting screw. With the 1 spring 100 in "the position shown thepivoted arms 52 and 56, as well as the feeding and spacing rolls carriedthereby, will be permitted'to move vertically to a limited degree.

ln Figs. 2, 3 and 4, 101 indicates a cradle frameconr' 4 prising :thespaced brackets 102 and the cross tie rod 103. Each bracketconsist-s ofa rear vertical section 104, top section 105, bottom section 106, frontsection 107, central vertical section I08 and rear extension 109, thelat- .ter'forming a support at its extreme end for the track 66.Spanningthespacetbetweenthe standards .3 and 6, are 'thebracket-supporting rods 111 which pass through .the eyes 112 forming apart of the rear vertical section 104. Extending between the rearextensions 109, and mounted in the ends thereof,.is a rod 113providing-a .pivotal support for the yielding spring plates 1'14 and:the plate holders 1-15. The plate holders 115 are trecessed at 116 toreceive bow springs 117 which yieldinglysupport thespring plates114,.the-spring plates being secured to the forward end-of the plateholders by-suitable screws. The forward :end of the plate holders 115.rest upon a transverse rod 119 supported inthe top section of thebrackets 102.

Extending forwardly from the plate holders are lugs 120 upon which therear ends of the :hinged plates 121 rest. These plates 121 are :secured-to hinge members 122 having pivot eyes 123 surrounding the cross tierods E03. vAlso supported-bythe crossrods 103 is the can feed platformor chute 1-24-having adjustably associated therewith can guides 125.

Positioned between the brackets .102, .and supported by-cross rods 126,is one embodiment of can stop mechanism for preventing the entrance ofcans into the runway of themachine when the supply-of labels is depleted-to a predetermined extent, the same comprising a pairof plates .127apertured to receive the cross rods 126 and spaced to accommodatetherebetween a segmental gear 128 pivotally mounted on a pin 129. Thegear 128 istprovided with groups of teeth .130 and 131, the latter teethbeing engaged by a rack 132 forming a part of the movable core 133 of anelectricalactuating means comprising a solenoid 13'4, attached to thelower ends of the plates 127. A guide 135 is employed to hold the rack132 in engagement with the teeth 131. The teeth 130 engage and operatethe rack bar 136, the upper end of which comprises a can stop member andis adapted to move vertically through the guides 137 and 138. Connectedto the-solenoid 134 and itsmovable core 133 is a spring 139 :functioningto hold the rack bar 136 elevated and position thestop member comprisingthe'upper end thereof in the path of the cans being fed to the machine.The solenoid 134 operates to move the .rack bar 136 downwardly-removingthe upper end of the rack vbar from'the path of the incoming cans andfunctions under the control-ofan electric circuit to-belaterdescribed.

to :is another sprocket wheel.

As is clearly shown-in Fig.4, the radius-of the teeth 131 is materiallyless than that of teeth 130 of segmental gear 128. Thus the movement ofcore or armature 133 of solenoid 134 is multiplied by gear 128 whentransmitted to the stop member 136.

Extending upwardly from the platform 1 are the end frame members 140 and141 of the label feeding mechanism, the upper ends of these framemembers being provided with extensions 14-2 through which pass theadjusting screws 143. Mounted on these adjusting screws, and havingthreaded engagement therewith, are the longitudinally extending bars 144which may be adjusted towards or away from one another depending uponthe size of the cans being labeled. The bars 144provide the supports forthe blocks 145 and to these blocks are attached the track sections 67.

Depending from one of the bars 144 are the rear guide rods 146 acting asback stops or guides for the pack 'of labels, while guide rods 14'7extend from the other or front bar 144. Pivotally attached to the blocks145 and 145, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, are the trip levers 148 whichare positioned along the side edges of, and slightly below, the toplabels of a pack during normal operation, these trip levers beingprovided :with adjustable fingers 149, held in adjusted position by setscrews 150. The adjustable fingers 149 operatively engage a transverseshaft 151 having its ends set in rearwardly extending arms 152 attachedto the shaft 153. Midway between the arms 152 is a bell crank lever 154'comprising plates 155 through one end of which passes the shaft 151, theother end of the bell crank lever having connected theretoas at 156 arod 157 as shown'in Fig. 1. This rod 157 operates a pawl 158 of aratchet mechanism to be later described. Spring 158 normally holds thetrip levers 148 in their elevated position due to itsconnection with thebell'crank levers 154.

In many instances it is found that one end of a stack of labels ishigher than the other due to the typeof printing thereon and in orderthat both of the trip levers may be properly positioned relative to thelabels, and both fingersof said trip levers simultaneously engage thetransverse shaft 151, it is necessary to provide the adjustment setforth and suitable mechanism is provided for this purpose as describedin parent application Serial No. 160,320, now Patent No. 2,626,075, andto which attention is invited for details not described herein.

A stack of labels 159 is disclosed as resting upon a pallet 160, thelatter being supported upon the normal feed table T comprising thelongitudinally extending transversely spaced'table sections 161, 162 and163 and extending through the table section 161, intermediate the endsthereof, are the rods 164 upon which the table sections 162 and 163"rest. The guide rods 146 and "147 are adjusted, as previouslydescribed, according to the width'ofthe labels being used. The tableconstruction just described'is pivoted toa head block 166,formedintegral with the rack bar '-167, so that the table may be tiltedas required -to properlypresent the labels to a can. This adjustment "ofthe table is accomplished by providing the table section 161 with adepending lug 168 and pivotally connecting this lug to the head block166. The

reference to the table'T and the conveyor chains to'be later described.

The'means for-elevating the auxiliary label supports orpallets-comprises the following structure.

lournaledin like'bearings 1:72, in the frame members 140 and 141, isarrotatable shaft 173 having keyed theretoitl'le sprocket wheels 1:74,the shaft 173 having'one of its ends'passing through the :frame 140 andkeyed lthere- Positioned forwardly "of the shaft 173 is anotherrotatable shaft 176 journaled at its opposite ends in like bearings, inthe frame members 140 and 141, and having keyed thereto sprocket wheels178, the shaft 176 having one of its ends passing through the framemember 140 and keyed thereto is another sprocket wheel. Also mounted inthe frame members 140 and 141 are the stub shafts 180, rotatablycarrying the sprocket wheels 181 and 182. Extending forwardly of theframe members 140 and 141, and attached thereto are the brackets 183forming the support for the rotatable shaft 184, carrying the sprocketwheels 185. Trained around the sprocket wheels 174 and 181 are thesprocket chains 186 to links of which is secured a rung 187 adapted toprovide a support for the inner end of a pallet 160.

Trained around sprocket wheels 178, 182 and 185 are sprocket chains 188,similar in form and function as sprocket chains 186, and to linksthereof is secured a rung 189 adapted to provide a support for the outerend of a pallet 160. As the pallets are supported on the rungs 187 and189 any movement of the chains in the direction indicated by the arrowswill elevate the pallet and labels supported thereby. Sprocket chainssuch as 192 respectively drive sprocket gears fixed to shafts 173 and176. These chains are driven at the same rate of speed by suitablegearing. The pallets 160 are moved vertically by the rungs 187 and 189and retained in a horizontal plane.

Extending longitudinally of the labeling machine, and journaled insuitable bearings, is a driven shaft 196 intermittently rotated by aratchet mechanism 239 described in detail in application Serial No.160,320, now Pat. No. 2,626,075.

The drive shaft 196 is intermittently rotated by the ratchet mechanism239 and, by suitable clutches 202, 203 and 220, 227, the driving forceof shaft 196 may be imparted selectively to elevate either the mainlabel table T or the auxiliary label supports or pallets 160. Theratchet drive of ratchet mechanism 239 is oscillated continuously by acontinuously driven shaft 247 and associated chain and sprocket gearing248. This driven shaft 247 is operatively connected with the drivingmechanism contained within the standard and in addition to providing thedrive for the ratchet mechanism extends therebeyond to be operativelyconnected with the glue supplying mechanism 249 which functions to applyspots of glue on the cans as they pass through the machine. As thelabels are removed from the top of the pack by the cans the trip levers148 are moved downwardly by can contact and through the associatedmechanism, described in detail in said Pat. No. 2,626,075, the ratchetmechanism 239 is caused to elevate the labels.

On referring to Fig. 6 there is disclosed, in dotted lines, a pallet160' which has been raised by the rungs 187 and 189 and the conveyorchains 186 and 188 to a point where the same is ready to be removed fromthe machine by the operator. On rotation of the hand wheel 233, afterplacing the clutch element 227 in declutched position, the sprocketchains 188 and their associated rung will function to remove the palletfrom between the labels and out of the machine. Should the operatorneglect to remove the pallet and the label feeding mechanism continuesto operate, the pallet 160' during its course of further vertical travelwill engage the arm 265 of a sliding switch operating rod 266 therebyelevating this rod. The arm 265 extends at right angles to the slidingswitch operating rod 266 and is in the path of movement of the pallet.The lower end of the switch operating rod is provided with a horizontalextension 267 carrying an adjustable contact screw engageable with amicroswitch 268 and the solenoid 134 are placed in series in an electriccircuit diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9 and comprising conductors270 and 271, receiving current from the main switch box 272. When themicro-switch 268 is thrown in open position by movement of the switchoperating rod 266, being engaged by the pallet, the circuit to thesolenoid is opened and the solenoid de-energized, permitting the spring139 to raise the rack bar 136 and project the upper end thereof into thepath of oncoming cans so as to discontinue the feed of cans into themachine. It is preferred in this embodiment of the invention to raisethe rack bar 136 by spring means rather than the solenoid so as to avoiddamaging the can which may happen to be directly over the rack bar whenthe latter is elevated.

Another embodiment of can stop mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 10through 13. This embodiment incorporates principles of the inventionwhich are also utilized in the embodiment of the invention shown inFigs. 1 through 9. However, due to the different specificcharacteristics of the several embodiments and the adaptability thereofto various types of can labeling machines, these embodiments are notequivalents of each other even though commonly embodying certain basicprinciples of the invention.

In the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 10 through 12,an electrically controlled can stop mechanism, generally designated 300,is shown positioned adjacent the entrance of the runway consisting oftrack sections 66 and 67 as well as flexible plate 114 to which cans arefed from chute 124. It will be understood that the frame members 60which support the can conveyor belts 59 are movable vertically relativeto the runway so as to adapt the labeling machine to containers ofdifferent diameters. The frame members 60 and mechanism supportedthereby are movable as aforesaid by the mechanism described aboverelative to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 9. From Figs.10 and 11 it will be seen that the can stop mechanism 300 which isdirectly attached to standard 6 and depending bracket 50, will move withthe frame members 60 and the associated mechanism as the latter isadjusted vertically to different positions relative to the runway.Exemplary containers, designated as can 302 in Figs. 10 and 11, areintroduced to the runway of the machine by moving along feed chute 124preferably by gravity. The chute 124, in the preferred embodiment of theinvention, is fixed relative to the runway.

The can stop mechanism 300 comprises a pair of supporting arms 304 and316 which are respectively bolted to the depending bracket 50 andstandard 6. A generally U-shaped stop member 308 comprises a stop bar310 and arms 312 and 314 are preferably integral with the opposite endsof the stop bar 310 and extend transversely therefrom. The arms 312 arepivotally attached by pivot bolts 316, for example, to the outer ends ofsupporting arms 304 and 306 as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Movement of the stop member 308 in one direction is effected by asolenoid 316 which, for convenience, may be secured by any suitablebracket to the standard 6. A suitable armature 318 depends from thesolenoid 316 and the lower end thereof is pivotally connected to thefree end of arm 314 of the stop member 308. If desired, separatesolenoids for each of the arms 312 and 314 may be provided but it hasbeen found that a single solenoid is satisfactory to achieve desiredresults, the same being pivotally connected only to the arm 314.

It has been stated that the electrical actuating means comprisingsolenoid 316 and armature 318 moves the stop member 308 in onedirection. Said direction is preferably toward the can stopping positionillustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. In Fig. 11 the position of the stopmember 308, when in stopping position, is shown in full lines whereas,in dotted lines, said member is illustrated in its inoperative ornon-stopping position. A suitable bracket 320 is also supported by thestandard 6 and projects horizontally as shown in Fig. 11 for purposes ofsupporting stop member actuating means comprising one end of a coilspring 322 the otherend o'f'wliich is connected .to arm vv314 of thestop member 308. Said spring 322 moves .the .stopmembcr v3.0.8 .in theopposite direction to ,the solenoid 316 .and, in the specificillustration herein, said opposite direction is toward the inoperativeor non-stopping.positionofthe stop member 308, said position beingillustrated in .dotted lines .in Fig. 11.

It will be noted that :the stop bar 310.is shown in the nature of a flatbar or elongated :plate in its full line, stopping position shown inFig. .1-1. The ,plane of the bar 310 is disposedsubstantiallytangentiallyto:the circumference of'the can 312 engaged bysaid bar whenin stopping position. This 'type and arrangement of canstopping mechanism has-a number of distinct advantages over .the canstopping means commonly in use at present on can labeling machines. Oneadvantagecomprises the fact that the bar 310 is above the runwayandmoves downward from its:inoperative position to-its operative stoppingposition, whereby gravity aids in such movement-ofthe bar 310 and.actionof the solenoid'thereby is facilitated.

Further, the bar 310. extends substantiallyaparallel to the axisof thecans while moving alongthe chute 124, said bar also being parallel tothe plane of said chute. Inasmuch as the bar is materially longerthanthe'normal'container contemplated to be-labeled-by the labeling machine,portions of said bar simultaneously willengagethe rims of the oppositeends ofcans whenengagedbyrthesame to stopthem and thus will precludeanypossibility-of-denting the sides of the cans as issometimespossiblewithrconventional stop members 'now in use. Still further, thetangential disposition of the stop bar 310 to the circumference of a can302, when the bar-is instoppingposition, will minimize any damagetoteven therrimsof a can 302 when engaged by the stop'bar 310.

As is also evident particularlyfrom Fig. l-l the disposition of the stopbar 310 in stopping position relative to a can 302 is such that agradualwedging action takes place upon a can being brought :to rest:bythe stop bar. That is, the engagement of the rims or other portionsof a container-with the stop bar is a somewhat :sliding engagement asdistinguished from an abrupt impactasis 'now commonly the situationinconventional can .stop mechanisms. An additional advantage alsoresides in {the fact that a minimum of movement of the stop -.bar 310 isnecessary between inoperative and operative or stopping positions. It ismerely necessary normally to space the bar 310 above 'the'relativelyfixed feed chute surface 124 sufficiently to permit the passage of.cans' beneath'the lowest edge of the stop bar 330. It is conceivablethat movement of the stop bar merely a-smalhfraction-o'f an inch belowits inoperative or non-stopping position will be adequate to effectstopping :of; a. can, aslong as such movement lowers the lowest edge-ofthe'bar 310ztoward-the feed chute 124 a distance'lesszthan the diameterof the-:containerto "be-stopped by the bar 310.

As in *the first: embodiment illustrated in rliigs. .1 through 9 thesecondembodiment illustratedin tFigsJ '10 rthrolugh 13, isso arrangedthatthe actuation of .the stop member 308 is effected preferably'by'th'evfee'rl of a paclooflabe'ls to the feeding stationlocated=intermediately'of the :ends

,previous supply .of labels is shown elevated by auxiliary feedingmeans, described'hereinabove relative to the'first T 'is lowered forlabel replenishment by an attendant.

embodiment of the invention, while the main 'feedtable Suchreplenishment normallytakesplacewithout stopping the labeling machineand the labeling function can continue uninterruptedly for an indefiniteperiod as long as the label supply is replenished at necessaryintervals. Should the supply of labels become diminished "to apredetermined minimum without being replenished'however and the'labe'lsupporting means is utilizingpallet 160, one of the fingers of saidpallet is arranged at a predetermined position in its upward movement toengage a laterally projecting finger 324 fixed to the upper end of aswitch actuating member 326 as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 12. Shouldthe pallet l60'not beused, a second finger 327 projecting laterally fromthe upper endof member 326 oppositely to finger 324, and preferably at ahigher level, will be engageable by transverse rod 164 to'actuate switch332 when the label supply on'themain support T, for example, has beendepleted to a predetermined minimum.

Supported by the frame of'the labeling machine at'any suitable positionis a supporting plate 328 which-is fixed relative to the frame ofthemachine. 'Under some circumstances, the stop plate .171 of theembodiment of the machine described in detail in Figs. .1 through 9 maybe used in lieu of supporting plate 328. In either event,'the supportingplate 328'has a plurality of spaced horizontal posts 330 which are fixedat one end to the plate 328 and the opposite endsthereof are providedwith vertically aligned guide bearing apertures which receive actuatingmember 326. Thesebearing apertures are adequate to guide the switchactuating member 326 during operative movements thereof. Fixedlysupported by ,plate 328 is .a control switch 332 which functionssimilarly to switch 268 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 9 exceptthat said switch is connected in the power circuit in such a manner andthe .contacts thereof are so arranged that, normally, the switch 332maintains the solenoid 316 de-energized. The switch 332 is preferably ofthe type which operatesupon relativelysmall movement of the contactmoving member 334 thereof.

Actuation of the switch is accompanied by a generally U-shaped member336 which is s'lidable relative to supporting plate 328 and oppositeends of the member 336 have adjustable actuating pins 338 carriedthereby. The actuating pins 338 are arranged to engageopposite ends ofthe contact moving member 334 of switch 332. Fixed to the member 336 andprojecting through a suitable slot in the supporting plate 328, asclearly shown'in'Fig. 10, is a lug 340 which is apertured to receiveactuating member 326. The member 326 is adjustably secured to lug 340 bymeans of a suitable set screw 342 By this arrangement, the amount ofremaining'labels controlling the actuation of the stop mechanism may'beadjusted to any suitable extent. Also, a manually actuatable switch 344may be connected in the solenoid circuit'to permit an attendant readycontrol from the label loading station, if desired to start or stop themachine from such position.

It will thus be seen that-when the remaining labels on pallet forexample, becomes depleted to a predetermined minimum, the pallet willengagefinger 324 at the upper end of actuating member 326 and causeactuation of switch 322 which will close thecircuit to solenoid 316,therebyenergizing the same and effecting movement of the stop member 308from its inoperative dottedline position ,irrFig. 11 to its-operativefull-line position shown .in said figure. Such movement is instantaneousandyet engage- -ment of the stop bar 310 with a container will be suchthat .no damage will be sustained by the container for reasons describedabove'and effectivestopping of theifeed of containers to thelabelingmachine willbe'effectcd.

-In view'of the electrical control ofthe can'stop mechanisms illustratedand described in 'the several embodiments of the invention, theactuation thereof may readily be effected not only by the label feedingmechanism but from an associated machine such as a casing machine towhich a labeling machine frequently feeds labeled containers, any typeof conveying mechanism elsewhere in a canning factory, any other machinein a canning factory, or any automatic or manually actuated switchplaced at any desired location in a canning factory, for example. Suchelectrical actuation of the stopping mechanism renders said type ofmechanism far more universal than presently used mechanically actuatedcan stop mechanisms. Further, the electrical actuation is instantaneousand therefore far more rapid than conventional mechanically operated canstop mechanisms thereby permitting closer regulation of the quantity oflabels remaining in the label feeding mechanism than has heretofore beenpossible with mechanically operated can stop mechanisms.

The second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 10through 13 also utilizes advantageously a can stop mechanism disposedabove the runway of a labeling machine and thereby affords numerousadvantages over can stop mechanism used heretofore in that maximumprevention of damage to containers and particularly tin cans is madepossible.

While the invention has been shown and illustrated in its severalpreferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited to the precisedetails herein illustrated and described since the same may be carriedout in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A container labeling machine comprising a frame having a runway toreceive and guide containers through said machine, label feeding meansin said machine including a label support movable toward said runwayintermediately of the ends thereof, container advancing means operableto move containers along said runway and past said label feeding means,and power means operable to drive said label feeding means and containeradvancing means, in combination with container stopping mechanismmounted in said machine and comprising a stop member movable in oppositedirections from a non-stopping position to a container stopping positionwherein said stop member intersects the path of movement of containersalong said runway, said stop member being positioned forwardly of saidlabel feeding means, stop moving means interconnected to and operable tomove said stop member in one direction, an electrically actuated meansoperable to move said stop member in the opposite direction, a circuitconnected to said last mentioned means and arranged to be connected to asource of current, a

switch in said circuit, and switch actuating means having a portionpositioned adjacent said runway and interengageable by said labeladvancing means when the supply of labels thereon reaches apredetermined minimum quantity, said switch then being operable by saidactuating means so as to cause movement of said stop into the path ofincoming containers.

2. The labeling machine set forth in claim 1 further characterized bysaid electrically actuated means comprising a solenoid and armatureoperated thereby and said switch being arranged normally to energizesaid solenoid and maintain said stop member in retracted nonstoppingposition until said switch is actuated when the label supply reaches apredetermined minimum, said solenoid then becoming de-energized, andsaid stop moving means then being operable to move said stop member intocontainer stopping position.

3. A container labeling machine comprising a frame having a runway toreceive and guide containers through said machine, label feeding meansin said machine including a label support movable toward said runwayintermediately of the ends thereof, container advancing means operableto move containers along said runway and past said label feeding means,and power means operable to drive said label feeding means and containeradvancing means, in combination with mechanism operable to discontinuethe feed of cans to the runway of said machine and comprising a switchsupported by said machine, a switch operating rod movably supported bysaid machine and having one of its ends projecting into the path ofmovement of the label support so as to be operable thereby, a stopmember adapted to be moved into the path of movement of containers intosaid machine, a spring interconnected to said stop member and operableto move it as aforesaid, a solenoid interconnected to and operable whenenergized to maintain said stop member retracted from said path ofmovement, and an electric circuit in which said switch and solenoid areconnected in series, whereby upon operation of the label support beyonda predetermined limit said rod will be moved and the switch opened tode-energize the solenoid to permit said spring to move said stop memberinto the path of incoming containers.

4. A container labeling machine comprising a frame having a runway toreceive and guide containers through said machine, label feeding meansin said machine including a label support movable toward said runwayintermediately of the ends thereof, container advancing means operableto move containers along said runway and past said label feeding means,and power means operable to drive said label feeding means and containeradvancing means, in combination with container stopping mechanismmounted in said machine and comprising a stop member movable in oppositedirections from a non-stopping position to a container stopping positionwherein said stop member intersects the path of movement of containersalong said runway, said stop member being positioned forwardly of saidlabel feeding means, an electric solenoid having a reciprocablearmature, motion multiplying means between said armature and stop memberoperable to produce greater movement of said stop member than saidarmature, said armature and motion multiplying means being operable whensaid solenoid is energized to move said stop member in one direction,stop moving means operable upon said armature to move it in a directionto cause movement of said stop in an opposite direction to that effectedby said solenoid, a circuit connected to said solenoid and arranged tobe connected to a source of current, a switch in said circuit, andswitch actuating means having a portion positioned adjacent said runwayand interengageable by said label advancing means when the supply oflabels thereon reaches a predetermined minimum quantity, said switchthen being operable by said actuating means to actuate said solenoid andcause movement of said stop into the path of incoming containers.

5. The labeling machine set forth in claim 4 further characterized bysaid motion multiplying means comprising a compound segmental gearhaving twosets of teeth of different radii respectively engageable withracks on said stop member and armature.

6. A container labeling machine comprising a frame having a runway toreceive and guide containers through said machine, label feeding meansin said machine including a label support movable toward said runwayintermediately of the ends thereof, container advancing means operableto move containers along said runway and past said label feeding means,and power means operable to drive said label feeding means and containeradvancing means, in combination with container stopping mechanismmounted in said machine and comprising a stop member movable in oppositedirections from a non-stopping position to a container stopping positionwherein said stop member is positioned to engage a container movingalong said runway and stop movement thereof, said stop member beingpositioned forwardly of said label feeding means, means interconnectedto and normally operable to hold said stop member in non-stoppingposition, an electric solenoid inter connected to and operable to movesaid stop member to its container stopping position, a circuit connectedto said solenoid and arranged to be connected to a source of current, aswitch in said circuit, and switch actuating means having a portionpositioned adjacent said runway and interengageable by said labeladvancing means when the supply of labels thereon reaches apredetermined minimum quantity, said switch then being operable by saidactuating means to energize said solenoid and cause movement of saidstop into its container stopping position.

7. The labeling machine of claim 6 in which said stop member ispositioned above said runway and moves toward said runway in moving tocontainer stopping position.

8. The labeling machine of claim 7 in which the stopping membercomprises lever means pivoted intermediately of the ends thereof, thesolenoid being interconnected to one end of said lever means and thecontainer engageable portion of said stop member is at the opposite endof said lever means and positioned to be subject to gravity in moving tostopping position, thereby facilitating the operation of said solenoid.

9. The labeling machine of claim 7 in which said stop member is U-shapedand the legs thereof are pivotally supported, the portion of said memberbetween said legs being substantially parallel to the axis of andengageable with a container when said member is in container stoppingposition.

10. The labeling machine of claim 9 in which said portion of said stopmember between said legs is fiat and is engageable substantiallytangentially with a container when positioned to stop the same.

11. In a container labeling machine, the combination of means defining apassageway past which containers move incident to passing into saidmachine, and a stop member supported by said machine for movement towardand from said means, said member being substantially parallel to saidmeans and the axis of containers when moving past said means and saidmember when moved toward said means being spaced therefrom less than thediameter of said containers, whereby said member stops movement ofcontainers past said means.

12. A container labeling machine having a container runway, incombination with a stop member extending substantially parallel to saidrunway and movably sup ported by said machine for movement from aninoperative position above said runway toward said runway to a containerstopping position spaced thereabove a distance less than the diameter ofsaid container, said stop member being engageable with a containersubstantially in parallelism with the axis thereof.

13. The labeling machine of claim 12 in which said stop member is fiatand longer than said containers, said member also being disposedsubstantially tangentially to the periphery of a container whenpositioned in stopping relationship relative thereto.

14. A can labeling machine having a runway for cans to roll along incombination with can stopping means supported for movement relative tosaid runway between can stopping and non-stopping positions andcomprising a substantially straight member longer than a can to bestopped thereby, said member being positioned so as to be substantiallyparallel to the axes of cans rolling along said runway, whereby saidmember when moved into said can stopping position relative to saidrunway simultaneously engages the rims at the opposite ends of a can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,154,237 Dixon Sept. 21, 1915 1,995,306 Hesson Mar. 26, 1935 2,079,321Kyler May 4, 1937 2,185,947 Leer Jan. 2, 1940 2,206,964 Kimball et a1.July 9, 1940 2,329,669 Tuthill Sept. 14, 1943 2,652,166 Johnson Sept.15, 1953

